Mental Health Board elevates deputy

CRYSTAL LAKE – The McHenry County Mental Health Board’s interim deputy director is now the interim executive director as the agency kicks off a nationwide search for a permanent leader.

Board members have appointed Todd Schroll as interim executive director to replace the outgoing Sandy Lewis. The board’s primary duty is to coordinate services among about two dozen county agencies that aid people with mental health issues, and disburse funds to them from a special property tax levy.

Schroll said he intends to pursue the job permanently.

“I’m very excited for the opportunity to serve in this role,” Schroll said.

Lewis, who has been executive director since 2005, is heading to Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va., to become an assistant professor of psychiatry and executive director of a children’s mental health treatment center. Her last day is Nov. 9.

The board in August announced the departure of Lewis and the retirement of two other directors.

Schroll was appointed interim deputy director on Sept. 3 to replace Bob Lesser, who retired at the end of August. Before that, Schroll supervised a program financed by a grant from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Clinical Director Liz Doyle is retiring at the end of November.

The deputy director position will remain vacant until the board hires a permanent executive director, who will assess the board’s organization and staffing, Lewis said. The clinical director’s position likely will be eliminated.

Schroll has worked for the board since July 2007, and worked with the agency through a state contract for a year before that. His appointment as interim executive director came in a 6-0 board vote Monday.